Geoffrey Tomlinson-Roe

Geoffrey Tomlinson-Roe (1928 – 2019) was born on 13 July 1928 at Chalkdale Workhouse, near Hitchin. His mother, Joyce Tomlinson, was unmarried and reluctantly gave him up for adoption by Reverend Alfred Roe, and his wife Nellie. He attended Wilshire Dacre Primary school and Old Hale Way Secondary School. After the untimely deaths of his adoptive parents in 1942 and 1943 respectively, Geoffrey went to a workhouse in Liverpool where was prepared for a life at sea. By 1944, sixteen year-old Geoffrey had signed up for the Merchant Navy. In 1947, he returned to civilian life in Hitchin and he began work in the building trade. In 1952, he married Alma Dwight, with whom he had four children, Dianne, Susan, Martin and Jason. He built up a successful construction business which he sold in 1979. He stayed in touch with his birth-mother and had eight half brothers and sisters. Geoffrey and Alma divorced in the mid 1980s but stayed close for their five grandchildren. He later met Peggy Stevens, who was his partner for the last 30 years. In 1991 he retired and did a lot of travelling. In 2012, Geoffrey was lucky to survive serious heart issues. He was admitted to The Milford Lodge Nursing Home, for his final weeks. He died on 31st October 2019.